Annul: meaning, definitions and examples

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annul

 

[ əˈnʌl ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

legal

declare invalid (an official agreement, decision, or result).

Synonyms

cancel, invalidate, revoke, void.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
annul

Typically used in legal contexts to declare something no longer valid, especially legal contracts such as marriages.

  • The court decided to annul their marriage.
  • The contract was annulled due to a breach of terms.
invalidate

Used to formally declare something null and void due to it not meeting certain standards or requirements; commonly used in legal, administrative or regulatory contexts.

  • The judge decided to invalidate the evidence.
  • Failure to sign the document will invalidate the agreement.
cancel

General term used to refer to stopping something planned or started, such as subscriptions, meetings, or reservations.

  • She had to cancel her dentist appointment.
  • I decided to cancel my magazine subscription.
revoke

Used to officially take back or withdraw something that was granted or a decision that was made; often used in legal or formal administrative contexts.

  • The government decided to revoke his passport.
  • Her driver's license was revoked after the incident.
void

Used to describe something that has no legal force or effect; often associated with contracts or legal documents.

  • Their contract was declared void by the court.
  • Any unauthorized changes will render this agreement void.

Examples of usage

  • The election was annulled due to widespread fraud.
  • The contract was annulled by mutual consent.
Context #2 | Verb

general

declare that something is no longer valid or legally binding.

Synonyms

cancel, invalidate, nullify, void.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
annul

Used mainly in a legal or formal context to declare something as non-existent from the beginning, often used for marriages or contracts.

  • The court decided to annul their marriage
  • The company had to annul the contract due to irregularities
invalidate

Used to indicate that something has lost its validity or effectiveness, often in legal, technical, or official contexts.

  • The new evidence will invalidate the previous claims
  • The old password has been invalidated for security reasons
nullify

Often used in legal contexts or formal documentation to describe something being made legally void or without effect.

  • The new treaty aims to nullify previous agreements
  • The judge nullified the contract due to fraud
void

Usually used in legal or formal situations to describe something as empty, null, or without legal force or effect.

  • The transaction was declared void
  • Any agreement signed under duress is considered void
cancel

Commonly used in everyday language to indicate stopping or ending something planned, such as events, orders, or subscriptions. Can carry slightly negative connotations when related to services.

  • I need to cancel my dentist appointment
  • They decided to cancel the concert due to bad weather

Examples of usage

  • The marriage was annulled after it was discovered to be based on deception.
  • He sought to annul the judgment against him.

Translations

Translations of the word "annul" in other languages:

🇵🇹 anular

🇮🇳 रद्द करना

🇩🇪 annullieren

🇮🇩 membatalkan

🇺🇦 анулювати

🇵🇱 unieważnić

🇯🇵 無効にする

🇫🇷 annuler

🇪🇸 anular

🇹🇷 iptal etmek

🇰🇷 무효로 하다

🇸🇦 إلغاء

🇨🇿 zrušit

🇸🇰 zrušiť

🇨🇳 取消

🇸🇮 razveljaviti

🇮🇸 ógilda

🇰🇿 күшін жою

🇬🇪 გაუქმება

🇦🇿 ləğv etmək

🇲🇽 anular

Etymology

The word 'annul' originated from the Latin word 'annullare', which means 'to reduce to nothing'. It first appeared in English in the 14th century. The concept of annulment has long been present in legal systems to declare something null and void. Throughout history, annulment has been used to invalidate agreements, decisions, and marriages, among other things.

See also: annulment.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,333, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.